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Adding a new pet to your home is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to consider your lifestyle, your finances, whether you have children or any other pets already, and the types of animals that might be a good fit.
With all these considerations, as well as the practicalities of bringing a puppy home for the first time (or a new kitten), it surprise you that more than half of pet parents didn’t consider their new pet’s breed or temperament.
This is according to a new survey from Petplan, which surveyed 1,000 pet owners in the UK. Of the participants, 57% didn’t take breed or temperament into account, while 51% didn’t think about their new pet’s size.
As part of the survey, Petplan also asked people what they wish they’d known before getting a pet. Almost a third (31%) said they wish they’d considered the additional cost of a new pet with expenses like insurance, food, and vet bills to think about, while 28% said they didn’t realize their existing pets would take some time to get used to the new arrivals and vice-versa. However, 25% said how rewarding it is when you see your pets bond with each other.
And, despite many pet parents discussing issues like jealousy, territorial behavior, and withdrawal when their existing pets adjusted to the changes at home, 14% said they’d experienced no huge challenges when socializing their pets.
For those who would like some advice, however, Petplan’s dog behaviorist Nick Jones has offered a couple of tips.
“Scent-swapping is a great first step and can help ease initial pet anxieties,” he begins, adding: “For dog-to-dog introductions, starting in a neutral space like a park allows for a more relaxed meeting. Let the dogs observe each other from a distance on the lead before allowing direct interaction.”
As for cats, Jones says that distance can be beneficial at first, to let them see and smell each other before they meet face to face. “As cats like their own space, it’s important to slowly introduce your cats to each other,” he explains.
If you’re introducing a dog and a cat to each other, it’s a good idea to keep your dog on their leash and give the cat the opportunity to approach or retreat as they choose – check out these tips from a vet about dogs and cats living together, too.
Read next: What I wish people considered before choosing a dog breed as a dog behaviorist or most common mistakes new dog owners make
